Shuttle position detector for weft replenishing looms



C DARWIN Nov. 25, 1941.

SHUTTLE POSITION DETECTOR FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Jan. 27, 194l 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CLIFFORD DARww ATTORN EY Nov. 25, 1941. c. DARWIN 2,263,984

SHUTTLE POSITION DETECTOR FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Jan. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR CLIFFORDDARWN (1.10 N-Jg x ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1941 SHUTTLE POSITION DETECTOR FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Ciifiord Darwin, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works,- Worcester, Mass, a, corporation of Massachusetts Application January 27,1941, Serial No; 376,044

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shuttle position detectors for weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide such a detector so constructed as to move to detecting position along a path which is behind the front of the shuttle box.

In the usual weft replenishing loom it is necessary to revoke transfer if the shuttle is improperly positioned to receive a reserve bobbin on a replenishing beat of the loom. This result is usually accomplished by a so-called shuttle feeler which is moved across the shuttle path preparatory to transfer and has connections with the transferrer mechanism acting to prevent operation of the latter when a misplaced shuttle engages the shuttle feeler. Heretofore these shuttle feelers have been so mounted as to move either downwardly to a position in front of the path of the shuttle or rearwardly to a position behind the front wall of the shuttle. Since it is necessary that the shuttle feeler be close to a properly boxed shuttle it has been necessary to use a short binder at the magazine end of the 10cm to avoid inteference with the shuttle feeler.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide a shuttle feeler which shall move to detecting position along a path located within the path of flight of the shuttle or betwe'enithe front and back walls of the shuttle box so that a longer binder may be used at the magazine end of the lay. In the description to follow the shuttle feeler is moved downwardly from a normally raised position.

In the usual drop box loom the box front binder will extend a considerable distance beyond the inner tip of a properly boxed shuttle, thereby providing a binder of considerable length afiording better checking conditions than those existing at'the magazine end of the loom; In

automatic pick'and pick filling mixing looms it is customary to employ shifting shuttle boxes at the magazine end of the lay, and these shuttle boxes are of the same general construction as those located at the opposite end, that is, they carry shuttle binders which extend to a point nearer the adjacent selvage than does the inner 'tip of a properly boxed sh'uttle. On this type of loom the ordinary shuttle feeler cannot be used and it is a further purpose of my present invention to provide a shuttle feeler which can be moved preferably downwardly into a shuttle box along a path behind the binder and the forward part of the shuttle box.

The particular change in loom operation which stoppage. This stoppage of the loom is effected by connections from the shipping mechanism to a shuttle feeler which will have a normal stroke to permit continued loom operation if the shuttle is properly positioned but which will have an interrupted or abnormal stroke should the shuttle be misplaced and thereby stop the loom.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide the shuttle feeler in the form of "a cording to my present invention, the shuttleboxes being shown in section and the transferrer and shuttle feeler being shown in normal raised position in full lines and in dotted lines,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 on a smaller scale showing a shipping mechanism of a'loom and the shuttle feeler engaging a misplaced shuttle to cause loom stoppage, t

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shuttle box'taken in the direction of arrow 3, Fig; 2', parts'be'ing omitted,

Fig. 4 is a detailed frontelevation taken in the direction of arrowd, Fig; 2, and 'Fig, 5 is a diagrammatic'view' showing the relation between the paths of the front and back walls of the shuttle box during a forward beat of the lay, together with the path of the shuttle feeler.-

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a loom frame It! having mounted thereon a magazine M which may be of the multicolor type and in-' cluding in its construction a transferrer arm ll pivoted as at [2 to the magazine'and having a bobbin engaging heel l3. The transierre'r arm ordinarily lies between thecloth and the inner plate 14 of the magazine and has depending arms :5 to which is'pivoted' a transferrer latch 16 movable forwardly on replenishing beats of the loom by a hunter I1 carried by the gang of shuttle boxes G. 'The usual comparatively heavy torsion spring [8 serves to hold the transferrer arm normally raised and in engagement with I eifect when the shuttle is misplaced is loom 5.", part oftplate, M, as shown in full lines'in'Fig. 1

in their lowest position The latch is ordinarily down as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, but is raised by a rod l9 operating in the usual manner preparatory to transfer.

The gang of boxes G are shown in the present instance as including four cells 20, 22, 23 and 24 the first two of which may if desired be used for mixing: filling. in album having a group of weaving shuttles each remaining active for but one pick at a time and being received at regular intervals and in rotation by the shuttle box 20. The boxes shift in a four-pick cycle,-. being; up for two picks and then down for tworpicksz The shifting may be effected through a boxrod' 25 and the magazine will be located high: enoughso that the shuttle S in the topboxilf can' be replenished when the shuttle boxes" are raised: The lower boxes may be providediwith atbobbint guide 26 for the outgoing bobbins.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 the lay" 13- of b the. loom is provided with-sinner. and; outer boxguidesiwrand: 3 I. respectively, which 1 thegang. G- is guided The. top cell provided withan overhanging. shelf. 32 which extends forwardly.

from-a -back-wall; 3-3.-to. a: box front. 34- from-which extends; forwardly a-- series.- of vertically spaced lugs o e ot Which is shown in'Fig. 3,. to. receive aibi-nden. pivotepin 36-.- Cellslll: and 2.2: are provided-each with a shuttle: binder 31 pivoted as at 3'8 tp1-- the rightend ofthe gang.- G aseviewed in (Fig.3.- and=urgedlrearwardly by a binder spring 39. As seen in Fig. 3-the binder.-has.- the inner or? left. end? thereof extendedato: a point between thetip T: of. the shuttle Si and the clothnot shownwbut to"the*1eft-'0'f--Eig. 3.

The=mechanism=thussfar described operatesin the usual manner, a weft detector not shown callingzfor' a replenishing. operation and causing elevation of J rod? Hi to? liftthe latch I 6: into the path-:ofwthev bunter IT- when the. gang G is in high position: Assthe lay movesforwardly from the: full: to the: dotted: position: showniin Fig. 1 the: transferrera'rm is rockedlabout its: pivot I2 and: movesgdownwardly to: insert areserve bobbim E; into 'I' thesh'uttle: S? during, the latter part of the forward motion of the lay A's thelay receded-the: spring. I81 liftsitlie transferrer arm and: moves thezlatch-i rearwardly: The bunter I eventually leavess the? latch and thelatter is free to drop to its non-transferring:position. rod i I 95: having: previously; been :lowered: by the: usual menhanism; Myiirvention'zisenot necessarilyelimited to use with a multi-color magazine; but when. such aareplenishing' mechanism is used it may be of thezusualaforml asshowninBatentNo; 1;03D,748;.andt the relationship between .the transferret and the shifting; shuttle boxes. may be as sen forth: in. cop-pending: application Serial No.- 36530932 The shipping mechanism is of the usual form andiihclude'sza shipperhandle 42 mounted on a shipper: IOdi 43*.- rotatableinthe loom frame. A stud .dfiionahandlel 42'Ienters a' notch 45in: a control member: land is thustheldzyieldinglyin the running position. shown: inz full linesin Fig. 2. Thereis alseiemployled a. brakehandledti mounted for os'cillatingi motionpni thesroda 43 and held yielding ihthe -oposi-tiomshowrnin full lines, Fig. '2; by a: stud 49 on: handle-148: which. enters a noteh aabralie settingmechanism of usual. form part of whichi is in'dkated at 5 I; A screw- 52 on lriaric lle 42 is engaged by. lug. 53 on' the bralie-liandleto move th'e shipper handle-to" -offf position whenever thebrakesetlto stop the loom; It is -believedsufiicient to state -thatewhen.

either handle 42 or 48 moves rearwardly or to the dotted line position in Fig. 2 the loom will be disconnected from its driving motor, and when handle 48 is thus moved the brake will be applied. Shipping mechanisms are well known and further description is not thought necessary. An example of shipping mechanism which may be used in connection with my present, invention is shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 359,568.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a shuttlepositiondetector or feeler 55 comprisingafloating lever pivoted as at 56 to the transferrer arm II, The rear or right end of the shuttle feeler as seen in Fig. 1 is formed with a downwardly extending shuttle detecting foot 51, while the left end 58 is held yieldingly against thestop 59- held' in vertically adjusted position on the magazine frame as indicated at 60, Fig. 1.

i A light tension spring 6| connected to the stop 59 is attached at 62 to the shuttle feeler between the pivot 56 and that part of end 58 which-engages the stop 59.- The. spring therefore. holds the forward or left end 58. of the shuttle feeler yielding-ly against the stop-59.

Pivoted to end .58F0fthe shuttle-feeler at E lis.

a. dependin rod 65- which passes-through a lug 56formed on a knock-offdagger 6-1 pivoted on an extension 68' of stud. 49- on brake'handle 48.

As" shown inFig. 1 the left end of the dagger ls provided with an adjustable stop screw B9 en.-

gageable with armM-of handle'48 to-limit downwardrmotionof the right endof the dagger relativelyto the brake handle. The dagger is notched as at 10: to.- receive abunter H secured a y-at 12- to the-lay. Upper and lower collars-13 andw'ld, respectively; are adjustable verticallyon rod 65 and a compression spring 15 is located between lug. 66 and collar 13;

notch'lfl above thelpathof the hunter H when rod 65is held up in normal-position by spring-6|;

The topshelf 32- of the upper. box= cell 20 is provided: with a transverse slot 'slightly wider than thetfoot 51: andextending from the 'back 33 of the boxesforwardly to the box front 34 from.

which: the box mouth 8+ extends.

In operation, the transferrer arm and theshuttle feeler will normally" be in the full line position indicated in Fig. 1. pickedlinmotation andzenter box 20 to be-raised to transfer position at regular intervals, whether or not replenishment: is. necessary. When transfer occurs as already described the pivot 56 will. descend: and. spring 6 I will. hold the forward:

end. 550i the'shuttlefeeler. up against stop 59, thuscausihg foot 51 to descendand passthrough slot: 80 into top cell 20 behind front Wall 34. If the shuttle is. properly'positioned the foot 5'l'will passbelowthe shuttle tip to a point close tothe will. therefore: move. forwardly without entering notch 10 and; the loom. will continue to run;

If, on the other hand, the shuttle is improperly positioned and projects inwardly'from its normal position sufiiciently to lie within the path of the foot 51, the latter will engage the shuttle. during descent of the-transierrer arm at. a point which becomes a. temporary pivoti around. which; the;

The dagger. is normally. supported: by collar H to locate the The shuttles areshuttle feeler will move in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. During continued downward motion of the transferrer arm end 58 of the floating lever will be lowered against the action of spring 6|. The resultant lowering of rod 65 places the dagger 61 in the path of the bunter H and further downward motion of the dagger is prevented by engagement of the stop screw 69 with arm 44. The advancing bunter thereupon enters notch 10 and continued forward motion of the lay will swing the handle 48 rearwardly, thereby disconnecting the driving mechanism from the loom and applying the brake.

After the dagger 61 is engaged by the bunter H the transferrer arm continues to move downwardly and cause further descent of the rod 65, which, however, merely compresses spring without disturbing the relationship of bunter H and the dagger, since spring 15 is too weak to unseat the bunter H from the notch 10'.

The lay will continue to move a short distance after the brake is applied, depending upon the effectiveness of the brake, and may start rearwardly, but will ordinarily be stopped prior to top center or picking position. During this backward motion of the lay the transferrer arm rises under action of spring l8 and the pivot 64 will move upwardly by the action of spring 6| until end 58 engages stop 59, after which further upward motion of the transferrer arm will restore the shuttle feeler to its normal raised position. The shipper handle will remain in forward position and dagger 6'! will be released by rearward motion of bunter I! with the lay, and for this reason rod 65 can rise with collar (4 in engagement with lug 66. After the loom has been stopped the weaver will correct the defective transfer and replenish the shuttle by hand and will then pull the shipper handle forwardly the effect of which is to move the dagger 61 to its normal rear position above the bunter II.

It is to be understood that if the foot 51 engages the top of a widely misplaced shuttle the effect is to give the pivot 66 a relatively large downward motion and spring 15 is made suffiicently long to accommodate this motion. If,

on the other hand, the shuttle is only slightly misplaced the foot will move to a lower position in its path before having its motion interrupted and the downward motion of pivot 54 will be relatively less. The parts are proportioned to give a satisfactory indication to stop when the minimum down motion of pivot 54 occurs.

Any usual form of thread cutter as well as resetting mechanism for the magazine may be employed in addition to the shuttle feeler set forth herein.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated diagrammatically the relation between the foot 5! and the front and back walls of the shuttle box immediately preceding and following the front center position of the lay. The term box front is used herein to include any part of the box structure, such as wall 34 or binder 31, which is in front of the shuttle and adjacent to the shuttle feeler. In Fig. 5 the location of the breast beam of the loom is indicated by the line F and the vertical ordinates along this line represent the angular position of the lay, the points 0, a and I) representing the lay at bottom, front and top center positions, respectively. The large left hand curve BF indicates the distance of the box front from the breast beam for difierent angular positions of the lay, and line BB gives corresponding values loom.

for the box back. The horizontal distance between lines BF and BB is proportional to the distance between the front and back walls of the shuttle box. The changing locations of this distance or dimension as the lay moves first forwardly and then backwardly generates a zone Y within whichthe foot 51 must be confined when it is below the box front. 7

It may be assumed that during the descent of the transferrer arm the front of foot 51 will reach the level of the top of the box front at point K on line or while the lay is moving forwardly. The box front will be at point m on line BF and the line "nq representing the length of foot 51 will lie within zone Y. If the shuttle is properly positioned the foot 51 will thereafter swing along an arc which lies below a horizontal line passing through the pivot 56 and the foot will therefore move forwardly as it moves downwardly behind the box front, as indicated by the curve us. The back end of the foot will correspondingly move along a curve qt and be in front of the box back. When the lay is on front center position foot 57 will have reached its lowest and also its most forward position as indicated by the points 8 and t, and as the lay recedes the foot will rise and will emerge from zone Y at line pr along a path having a rear component.

'If the shuttle is misplaced it will engage foot 5! at any one of a number of points the lowest of which, near the shuttle point, is indicated at u. Thereaftercenter 56 continues to descend and causes a slight rearward motion of foot 51 indicated by curved dotted line uw, Fig. 5. The corresponding curve Zf bows rearwardly but does not touch line BB, remaining in zone Y. As the lay recedes the foot 51 moves forwardly until end 58 engages stop 59, and then moves rearwardly as in the previously described instance The whole range of detecting movements of foot 51 are therefore located between the front and back walls of the shuttle box and there is no interference. The point it occurs early enough in the advance of the lay to allow time for stopping the The region ofactivity of the foot 51 is kept as near the box front as convenient to afford a leverage favorable to the quick operation of the dagger 51.

7 From the foregoing it will be seen that I have. provided a shuttle position detector which moves along a path behind the front wall of the shuttle,

thereby permitting the use of a long binder at the magazine end of the loom. It will also be seen that 'I have provideda floating lever deriving its operating force from the transferrer arm and so controlled as to operate around two different centers one of which is the point of contact with a misplaced shuttle and the other of which is stop 59 which is operative at the start of a detecting stroke to cause the shuttle feeler to move toward detecting position. It will further be seen thatprovision is made for permitting the transfer to take place even though the shuttle be misplaced and then stop the loom prior to picking to prevent damage to the warp shed. It will further be noted that provision is made for permitting engagement between the bunter H and the latch 6'! whether the foot 51 engages a shuttle which is only slightly misplaced or widely misplaced, and that provision is made for continued motion of the transferrer arm after the stopping stroke has been initiated.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay along which travels a shuttle from the front wall of which a weft thread extends to the adjacentselvage, loom stopping mechanism normally inrunning position, a shuttle position detector normally out of the path of the shuttle, means tending to cause said shuttle position detector to have a complete detecting stroke behind said weft thread and toward the path of the-shuttle during a replenishing beat of the loom, theshuttle when positioned on a replenishing beat to engage the shuttle position detector acting to interrupt said detecting stroke, and means controlled by the shuttle position detector to cause the stopping mechanism to move to stopping position when the detecting stroke of the shuttle position detector is interrupted by a misplaced shuttle.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to be replenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a working stroke on the replenishing beat of the loom to move the bobbin toward the shuttle, a shuttle position detector connected to the transferrer armto be moved thereby on a working stroke thereof and capable of having either a normal stroke or an abnormal stopping stroke, means cooperating with the transferren arm to cause the shuttle position detector to have a normal stroke when the shuttle is properly positioned for replenishment, and the shuttle when positioned to engage the shuttle position detector-on replenishing beats cooperating with the" transferrer arm to give the shuttle position detector an abnormal stopping stroke, and means controlled by the shuttle position detector to stop the loom when said shuttle position detector has an abnormal stopping stroke.

3; In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to" bereplenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a working stroke on the replenishing beat of the 100m to move the bobbin toward the shuttle, a shuttle position detector pivoted intermediate its ends to the transferrer arm to begiven a downward motion toward the shuttle when the transferrer arm has a working stroke, one end of the shuttle position detector capable during a working stroke of the transferrer arm of having either a full normal stroke when the-shuttle is properly positioned for transfer and out of thepath of theshuttle position detector or an interrupted shorter stroke when the shuttle is improperly positioned for transfer and extends into the path of said one end of the shuttleposition detector, means to hold the other end of said shuttle positiondetector stationary when the'first named end has a full normal stroke, said other end of the shuttle position detector movin against the action of said means when the first named end has an interrupted stroke, and means controlled by said other end to stop the loom when the shut-tle position detector has an interrupted stroke and said other end is moved against the action of said means.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having stoppingmechanism to be moved from running to stopping position to stop the loom and having a lay provided with a shuttle box containing a shuttle to be replenished during forward motion of the lay on a replenishing beat of the loom by downward motion of a transferrer arm which is normally in raised position, a shuttle position detector comprising a floating lever, a pivotal conmotion between the lever and the transferrerarmito cause the lever to move downwardly when the .transferrer arm descends, a controller for the" stopping mechanism connected to the lever and normally located in non-stopping position, saidlever having a portion moving downwardly todetect the position of the shuttle along the length of the lay with a normal stroke when the shuttle is properly positioned for replenishment and the transferrer arm descends, and said portion of the lever engaging a misplaced shuttle to have downe ward motion thereof arrested during descentof the transferrer arm and the latter thereupon causing movement of that part of the lever connected to the controller to move the latter to stopping position. I

5. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay along which a shuttle travels in a givenpath toward transfer position and in which a weft thread, extends from the front wall of the shuttle to the adjacent selvage, stopping mechanism for theloom normally in running position, a shuttle position detector normally above the path of the shuttle, means to cause the shuttle position detector to have a downward motion during aweftreplenishing operation of the m across said shuttle path at a point between the selvage and a properly positioned shuttle and behind said weft-- thread, the shuttle when positioned to engage the shuttle position detector during a replenishing operation interrupting said downward motionof the shuttle position'detector; and an element connected to said stopping mechanism and said shuttle position, detector to be positioned by the latter in the path of the lay to cause the latter to move the stopping mechanism from runningto stopping position when downward motion ofthe shuttle position detector is interrupted by the shuttle during a weft replenishing operation of the loom.

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to be replenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a working stroke on replenishing beats of the loom to move the-bobbin toward the shuttle, a shuttle position detector, means to transmit a force from the transferrer arm during a working stroke thereof to the shuttle position detector to move the latter toward the shuttle, said shuttle position detector having-twospaced portions each capable of a downward motion, means to hold one of said portions substantially stationary to cause movement of the other portion by the transferrer arm on a working stroke of the latter across the path of the shuttle when the latter is properly positioned for transfer on a replenishing beat of the loom, the shuttle when located in the path of said other portion on a replenishing beat of the loom engaging said other portion and cooperating with the transferrer arm to move the first named portion downwardly, and means controlled by said firstnamed portion when the latter moves downwardly toefiect loom stoppage.

7. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle movable along a given path to a position-to be replenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a working stroke on weft replenishing beats of the loom to move the reserve bobbin toward the shuttle, a shuttle position detector having one portion movable toward the shuttle path, resilient means acting on another portion of the shuttle position detector tending to prevent movement of said other portion but yieldable to permit movement ofsaid other portion, means to connect the transferrer arm to theshuttle position detector at apointbetween said portions and transmit a force derived from the transferrer arm when the latter has a working stroke to the shuttle position detector and cooperating with said resilient means to give said one portion a normal motion along a given detecting path which crosses the shuttle path when the shuttle is properly placed for replenishment, the shuttle when extending into said detecting path on a weft replenishing beat of the loom engaging said one portion to cause the transferrer arm on a working stroke thereof to give the shuttle position detector an abnormal movement and cause said other portion to have a stopping movement against the action of said resilient means, loom stopping mechanism, and means controlled by said other portion when the latter has a stopping movement to cause said stopping mechanism to stop the loom.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to be replenished by a reserve bobbin when the shuttle is in transfer position, a transferrer arm having a working stroke to move the reserve bobbin toward the shuttle on weft replenishing beats of the loom, a shuttle position detector connected to the transferrer arm to be given a shuttle position detecting stroke on replenishing beats of the loom by a force derived from the transferrer arm when the latter has a working stroke, means additional to and cooperating with the transferrer arm to cause the shuttle position detector to have a normal detecting stroke when the shuttle is in proper transfer position, the shuttle when extending into the path of the shuttle position detector on a working stroke of the transferrer arm engaging and interrupting the normal detecting stroke of the shuttle position detector to cause the latter to have an abnormal stroke against the action of said means, and loom stopping mechanism controlled by the shuttle position detector to stop the loom when said shuttle position detector has an abnormal stroke.

9. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to be replenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a transferring stroke on replenishing beats of the loom, a shuttle position detector having a portion thereof to receive an actuating force from the transferrer arm when the latter has a transferring stroke, said shuttle position detector capable of having either of two characters of motion when receiving the actuator force, one motion being normal and the other motion being abnormal to effect loom stoppage, loom stopping mechanism, a controller for the latter normally in running position and movable to stopping position by the shuttle position detector when the latter has an abnormal motion to cause operation of the stopping mechanism, and means additional to the transferrer arm connected to the shuttle position detector to cause the latter to have a normal motion when receiving said actuating force from the transferrer arm on a replenishing beat of the loom, provided the shuttle is properly positioned for replenishment, the shuttle when positioned to engage the shuttle position detector on a replenishing beat of the loom cooperating with the transferrer arm to give the shuttle position detector an abnormal motion against the action of said means to move the controller to stopping position and cause the stopping mechanism to stop the loom.

10. In a weft replenishing loom having a shuttle to be replenished with a reserve bobbin, a transferrer arm having a working stroke on the replenishing beat of the loom to move the bobbin toward the shuttle, a shuttle position detector pivoted to the transferrer arm and movable by the latter toward the shuttle on a replenishing beat of the loom, resilient means connected to the shuttle position detector and cooperating with the transferrer arm to cause said detector to have a normal stroke when the shuttle is properly positioned for replenishment and out of the path of movement of the shuttle position detector during a working stroke of the transferrer arm on a replenishing beat of the loom, the shuttle when positioned to engage the shuttle position detector on a replenishing beat cooperating with the transferrer arm to give the shuttle position detector an abnormal stopping stroke against the action of said resilient means, and controlled by the shuttle position detector to stop the loom when the shuttle position detector has an abnormal stopping stroke.

CLIFFORD DARWIN. 

